The number six in the bible represents human weakness and imperfection. “Lord have mercy”. It is the blues in a nutshell. So there just had to be a Blues Portrait Volume Six. Pauline (Bailey) has once again elegantly brushed her ultramarine, cobalt and phthalate pigments off her palette and on to the canvas of another forty two blues and roots artists.
If the premise of a forward is to provide credibility and ‘prepare ye the way’ from a respected authority, then who better than the OzBlues man hisself, Matt Taylor (featured in Volume 1). It was Matt and his band Chain back in 1971 that paved my harmonica journey with their harp drenched single Judgement. “Lord I come in judgement to see if I go up or down”.
As in each of the preceding volumes there is a variety of blues and roots artists from different eras and circumstances (some you’ll know and others you soon will), all connected by a deep felt passion for their music and its Deep South origin.
There are a few international performers (including an engaging interview with a harp legend) and some touching tributes too. Hey! ‘Wonny’ even has a mention. I won’t reveal any of the forty two, except to suggest with an anagram, that my first point of call was with ‘Rex Al Buns’.
Do your self a service and grab yourself a copy from Pauline’s online shop. For previous volume reviews, head here Jazzamatazz, Train Rhythm and One Eyed.
Postscript (for Pauline): One of my favourite blues toons is from the band mentioned in your introduction, Ride On.
